Tamper-proof closures for containers



Oct. 8, 1957 w. F, SMITH 2,808,954

TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS Filed May 24. 1956 INVENTOR WE6171211 United States TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURES non CONTAINERS Winfield F.Smith, Vineland, N. 1., assignor to Owens- Illinois GlassCompany, acorporation of ()hio Application May 24, 1956, Serial No. 587,039

4 Claims. (Cl. 215-38) The present invention relates to improvements intamper-proof closures for containers, such for example as shell vials,ligature tubes and similar cylindrical containers which'ordinarily aremade of drawn glass tubing.

An object of my invention is the provision of a simple, efiective andcomparatively inexpensive closure including a hood formed of rubber-likematerial such, for example, as polyethylene, such hood being telescopedover the open end of a vial or tube and firmly held in sealingengagement with the container by means of a thin metal shell, orferrule. v v

Afurther object of my invention is the provision of a closure of theabove character in which the shell includes a preformed annular hollowbead projecting radial-- ly inward of the skirt and intended to becollapsed vertically by shortening of the shell skirt, all to the endthat the bead will press a portion of the hood flange firmly against anexternal sealing surface of the container.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a plastic hoodincorporating on the exterior surface of the flange portion an annularseries of vertical cushioning ribs which are intended to preventapplication of any excessive compression strain to the glass such asmight result from pressure which the shell exerts during and afterapplication. To this end the ribs may be spread laterally under pressureinto the space between said ribs.

A still further object is to so form ribs on the exterior surface of thehood flange that they will, to a substantial degree, compensate forvariations in the outside diameter of the vial or tube and therebyinsure proper and effective sealing and, additionally, to engage aninwardly turned free edge portion of the shell skirt, whereby to holdthe two elements against accidental separation.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a closureincorporating my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating the sealingposition of a closure upon a vial and in dotted lines a conventionalmeans for afiixing the closure to the container.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the plan ofline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the plastic hood.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the closure showing the tear-stripfeature which facilitates removal of the closure from a container.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, it is shown for use withand applied to a glass vial or similar straight-sided container, whichis or in any event may be formed of drawn glass tubing. Such a vial isordinarily a cylinder, the walls of which are relatively thin and, as aconsequence, subject to breakage if excessive pressure is appliedthereto incident to attachment of a closure.

My tamper-proof closure, as shown, comprises a cuplike plastic hood 11and a sheet metal shell 12 which is I 2,808,954 Patented Oct; 8, 1957 ofgenerally cup-like form and telescoped over the plastic hoodand by novelmeans, yet to be described, held in assembled relationship to thelatter. v

The plastic hood may well be formed of polyethylene or other plasticmaterial having similar characteristics and, as shown, comprises acircular top portion 13 and a depending annular flange which preferablyhas formed on its exterior surface an annular series of ribs 15. Each ofthese ribs has a base portion 16 lying in the plane of the free loweredge of the flange 14 and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, extends upwardlytoward, but terminates short of the circular top portion 13. These ribsalso taper upwardly so that both their width and thickness decreasetoward said top portion. 1

The shell 12, preferably, although not necessarily, is formed oflight-gauge aluminum and comprises a circular panel 17 and dependingannular attaching skirt 18 which is of slightly greater height than theflange of the hood ll. The free lower margin of the attaching skirt 18is turned inwardly slightly-to provide a supporting or retaining flange19 or shelf with which the base portions of the ribs are in contact, asshown in Fig. 1, so that the two elements are effectively securedagainst accidental separation. A hollow annular bead 20 is formedinternally of the skirt 18 of the shell preferably at a point somewhatnearer the panel portion than to the free end of the skirt, such beadprojecting radially inward to provide an annular inner surface ofsomewhat lesser diameter than the inner surface of the attaching skirtproper, for contact initially with the upper end portions of the ribs15. This hollow bead is collapsible vertically under pressure of closureapplying mechanism in a fashion and for the purpose to be set outpresently.

In applying a closure of the above form to a vial or such container, theclosure, in the form shown in Fig. l, is telescoped over the open end ofa vial and pressed downwardly until the top portion 13 of the hood hasbeen firmly brought into contact with the rim or mouth forming wallof-the container. Thereupon an anvil 21 is brought into position asshown in Fig. 2 to apply additional sealing pressure to the closure andconfine the skirt 1% so that it will not become deformed incident todeliberately collapsing the hollow bead 2i Next, suitable jaws 22 aremoved into position beneath the inwardly curved flange 19 of the skirt18. Immediately thereafter these jaws 22 are moved axially upward sothat the aforementioned flange 19 is bent inwardly and the hollow bead20 collapsed vertically resulting in a substantial decrease in them'srall height of the attaching skirt and consequent snug sealingcontact of the hood flange with the side wall of the container 10. Asshown in Fig. 2, the hollow bead may be completely collapsed so that itbecomes quite deeply embedded in the hood flange 14.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a tear-strip 23 terminating in a finger piece 24which, together, provides means facilitating ready removal of theclosure and at the same time performing the function of well-knowntamper-proof closures. Obviously lifting of the finger piece 24 andseparating the strip from the closure proper along the score lines 25simplifies the closure removal problem. It is also apparent that such aclosure cannot be reapplied without clearly indicating that the originalpackage has been opened.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure of the character described comprising a cup-like hoodformed of a rubber-like material and including a circular top portion,an annular flange depending from the margin of the top portion, a lightgauge sheet metal shell within which said hood is nested, said shellincluding a circular panel, an annular skirt dependfree edge turnedinwardly to hold the hood and shell against accidental separation, ahollow axially collapsible annular bead projecting radially inwardtoward the flangeof said hood, and an annular-series of external ribsformed on the hood flange and each-such rib extending from the free edgeof the flange toward bu-t terminating short of the top portion. g

2. A closure of the character described comprisinga cupvlike hood formedof a'rubber-like. material-and including a circular top portion, an,annular flange depending from the margin of the top portion, a lightgauge sheet metal shell within which said hood is nested, saidshellincluding a circular panel, an annular skirt depending.v from themargin of the panel, said skirthaving its free edge turned inwardly tohold the. hood and shell against accidental separation, ahollow axiallycollapsible annular bead projecting radially inwardv toward the flangeof said hood, and a series of circumferentially spaced ribs formed onthe exterior surface of the hood flange, each rib extending from thefree edge of the flange toward the top portion and decreasing in widthand thickness toward the latter.

3. A closure of the character described comprising a cup-like hoodformed of a rubber-like material and including a circular top portion,an annular flange depending from the margin of the top portion, a lightgauge sheet metal shell within which said, hood is nested, said shellincluding a circular panel, an annular skirt depending from the marginof the panel, said skirt having its free edge turned inwardly to holdthe hood. and shell against accidental separation, a hollow axiallycollapsible annular bead projecting radially inward toward the flange ofsaid hood, and a series of circumferentially spaced'rib's formed on theexterior surfi ace of the hood flange, each rib extending from the freeedge of the flange toward the top portion and decreasing in width andthickness toward the latter, each said rib terminating in proximity tothe lower side of said hollow bead.

4. A closure of the character described comprising a cup-like hoodformed ofa rubber-like material' and ineluding a ular t p p rti n, anann lar flange d nceding from the margiubf the t p PQHZQH, a ligh gaugesheet metal shell within which said hood is nested, said shell includinga circular panel; an annularskirtdepending from the margin oi the p nel,saidsls rt having its free edge turned inwardly to hold the hood andshell against accidental separation, a hollow axially collapsibleannular bead projecting radially inward toward the flange of s d h a ndan annular seri s of. externa ibs o med. on the hood flange, each suchrib having one end. in contact with the inward y rne free edge tthe.shell skir aud its other nd terminat ng. in pr ximity-to but ab thhollow bead.

Reierences. it d ihthe file Qt't ns patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,080,747 Scofield May 18, 1937' 2,136,545 Gibbs Nov;.l 5', 1938-2,186,908 Page et a1. Ian. 9, 1940 2,659,509 Yue San Fong Nov: 17, 1 953

